DULLES, Va., Mar 27, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Johnson to Lead Company's Corporate-Level Quality Assurance and Supplier Management Efforts, Judd to Oversee Production, Integration and Test Efforts
Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE:ORB) today announced that Mr. Barry Johnson and Mr. James Judd have been promoted to the positions of Vice President of Quality Assurance and Supplier Management and Vice President of Production, Integration and Test, respectively. Both positions will be part of the company's corporate staff headed by Mr. Jean Floyd, Senior Vice President of Technical Operations. Prior to their promotions, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Judd were Directors in the company's Space Systems Group in Dulles, VA and Launch Systems Group in Chandler, AZ, respectively.
"The increasing scale and complexity of Orbital's launch vehicle and satellite-related businesses require an enhanced role for corporate-level expertise to ensure high-quality operations are implemented in a consistent and efficient manner across the company," said Mr. Floyd. "Barry and Jim have been instrumental over the past several years in developing top-caliber quality assurance and lean manufacturing programs within their respective groups. We are now looking to them to expand these initiatives into all areas of the corporation."
Mr. Floyd added, "The initial areas of emphasis will be quality assurance systems and supplier management programs, which will be led by Barry, and production operations and integration and test functions, which Jim will spearhead. The objectives of the two newly-created roles are to improve on all areas of product quality and reliability, reduce our operating costs and cycle times, and provide our customers with the most reliable space products."
Mr. Johnson joined Orbital in 1998 and has held progressively responsible positions in the areas of Subcontract Management, Reliability Assurance, and Safety and Mission Assurance in the Space Systems Group. He holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire, a Masters in Business Administration from Rivier College in Nashua, New Hampshire, and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Engineering Management and Systems Engineering from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Mr. Judd joined Orbital in 1994 as a result of the company's acquisition of Fairchild Space and Defense, where he had worked since 1991. As a member of the company's satellite-related Space Systems Group, Mr. Judd was the lead production manager for Orbital's Star commercial communications satellite platform. In 2003, Mr. Judd transitioned to Orbital's Launch Systems Group, where he assumed a critical role on the Orbital Boost Vehicle missile defense interceptor program, leading the program's evolution from research and development into higher-rate production and delivery. Mr. Judd holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology.
About Orbital
Orbital develops and manufactures small space systems for commercial, civil government and military customers. The company's primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-orbit, geostationary-orbit and planetary spacecraft for communications, remote sensing and scientific missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense boosters that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also offers space-related technical services to government agencies and develops and builds satellite-based transportation management systems for public transit agencies and private vehicle fleet operators.
More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com
SOURCE: Orbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation Public and Investor Relations: Barron Beneski, 703-406-5528 beneski.barron@orbital.com